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Enjoy the very best of LondonFri, 22 May 2015 17:44:12 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3Houses of Parliament Tourhttp://blog.visitlondon.com/2013/08/houses-of-parliament-tour/
http://blog.visitlondon.com/2013/08/houses-of-parliament-tour/#commentsThu, 22 Aug 2013 15:29:21 +0000http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=35229
This week, some members of the visitlondon.com team were treated to a private tour around the Houses of Parliament. And what a treat it was! The team share their highlights…

“I loved hearing about the antics of King Charles I, such as when he stormed into the House of Commons, and the rules and traditions that have been created as a result of things he did during his reign. It was really interesting seeing the warrant for his death on display, signed by the 59 Commissioners, including Oliver Cromwell!”Lauren Manning, Client Services Manager

“So many highlights! Westminster Hall was beautiful and so majestic; it’s incredible that it’s 900 years old. It was sobering to stand in a room where people like William Wallace and Guy Fawkes had been tried, and where huge figures such as Winston Churchill had lain in state. I also loved the tiny working Post Office – but then, I guess ministers receive a lot of mail…”Louise Maher, Marketing Manager

“For me (an Aussie in London) the Houses of Parliament is one of the most interesting buildings in the capital. It’s architecturally magnificent and I always enjoy walking past it. I’ve always wanted to see inside and it was so impressive. I loved hearing about the history and why a monarch can’t enter the Commons and that the Speaker is the only person who lives in the building. I thought the House of Lords was spectacular with the red and gold. A visit inside the Houses of Parliament should go to the top of the list of things to do in London!”Tamara Sperling, PR Manager

“I didn’t realise visitors were allowed inside the Houses of Parliament so I was really excited to have a look around. I wasn’t disappointed, it was one of my favourite things I’ve done in London! There’s so much amazing history, but I think my favourite thing was getting a behind the scenes view of the Lords’ Chamber and the House of Commons – they’re so much smaller than they look on television! It was also really interesting hearing about how many old parliamentary traditions have remained intact.”Stacey Crosskill, Social Media Manager

The Houses of Parliament run guided tours in Spanish, Italian, French, German and Russian, as well as English, and are open throughout the year, including Christmas. Book tickets

The tower that houses the famous Big Ben bell, whose distinctive chime can be heard throughout Westminster, is to be renamed in honour of The Queen in her Diamond Jubilee year.

Presently known as the Clock Tower, it will be renamed Elizabeth Tower at a special ceremony, following recent approval of the proposal by the House of Commons authorities.

It is worth noting, however, that the name change will only apply to the tower and not the bell. Big Ben, incidentally, is said by some to have been named after a giant and very successful 19th century boxer called Ben Caunt, proving that all sorts of achievements are capable of making history.

What do you think of the name change? Will you start calling it Elizabeth Tower; or continue to refer to the attraction as Big Ben as many people currently do? Let us know in the comments below.

]]>http://blog.visitlondon.com/2012/06/big-bens-clock-tower-to-be-renamed/feed/5London's Quirkiest Souvenirshttp://blog.visitlondon.com/2012/06/londons-quirkiest-souvenirs/
http://blog.visitlondon.com/2012/06/londons-quirkiest-souvenirs/#commentsMon, 18 Jun 2012 09:00:26 +0000http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=27073While it’s likely that your visit to London will be unforgettable, a souvenir can be a great way to bring back happy memories – as well as to show off to your friends! We’ve put together a list of some of London’s quirkiest souvenirs, which are guaranteed to remind you of the eccentricity and diversity of our great city. If you think we’ve missed any gems please let us know in the comments!

Travelcard Cushion

In celebration of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, graphic designer Ashley Allen created a fantastic travelcard-inspired cushion. Lined with royal purple and representing a travel ticket to Buckingham Palace, this trendy piece will ensure you can relax like royalty.

If you miss hanging out in Selfridges‘ many cafés and bars, perk up your mealtimes with this handy spork, coloured in the department store’s signature yellow. Not only does it make forks, knives and spoons redundant, but its vibrant colour means that you could probably use it to eat in the dark.

Lulu Guiness Phone Box iPhone Case

Available from Fortnum and Mason, this patent leather iPhone case is a stylish replica of London’s iconic red phone boxes. Don’t leave it lying around, however, lest you return to find it full of tourists cramming themselves inside to take photos.

Samuel Johnson Cufflinks

Carnaby Street’s Things British shop sells these cute cufflinks, which display Samuel Johnson’s classic quote: “when a man is tired of London..he is tired of life.” Sure to be a great ice-breaker at parties!

London 2012 Olympic Games Wellington Boots Pin Badge

While wellingtons are lamentably not part of the Team GB kit, this fun pin badge will ensure you get a gold medal for style.

Hermes Foot from the British Museum

Entering the British Museum’s shop is like stealing into a Pharoah’s tomb: it’s full of wonderful objects but you just can’t take them all at once. We particularly love their plaster cast of Hermes Foot, taken from an unknown statue and which – according to the Museum – makes an excellent door stop.

House of Commons Port

After a tour of the Houses of Parliament, you can check out the gift shop that contains dozens of quirky souvenirs. Grab a bottle of House of Commons port for a delicious taste of power.